HB 1283 Summary

• Adds new section 584 to Hawaii Revised Statutes establishing exemption from mediation in contested paternity proceedings where domestic abuse is alleged.

• Courts cannot require a party alleging domestic abuse to participate in mediation against their wishes in paternity proceedings.

• Mediators must screen for domestic abuse and cannot conduct mediation when domestic abuse is alleged unless the alleged victim authorizes it and the mediator is trained in domestic abuse, with safety protections in place.

• Amends section 580-41.5 to clarify and expand exemptions from mediation in divorce proceedings involving domestic abuse allegations, replacing "spousal abuse" and "family violence" terminology with "domestic abuse" for consistency.

• Effective July 1, 3000.